Bus strike suspended: LPBOA

The strike scheduled for tomorrow (15) by the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) has been called off, Chairman Gemunu Wijeyratne said.

The decision came after talks with the Finance Minister this evening (14).

Following the discussion Wijeyratne told the media that the Finance Minister had told him that his remark about the minimum fine had been misrepresented. He said the Minister had promised to look into the matter.

Private bus-owners on Friday (11) threatened action if the government didn’t revise a proposed increased fine for traffic offenses.

At a press conference this morning (14), the The Private Bus Owners' Association said they would go ahead with the planned strike tomorrow, if the government did not respond to their demands to withdraw the proposed minimum traffic fine of Rs.2,500.

Addressing the media at the press-conference in Colombo this morning he expressed disappointment at the Budget 2017, for not paying significant attention on public transportation.

"We are less worried about the minimum fine. What we are really worried about is the lack of facilities given to the private buses, that contribute a 60% to the public transportation in Sri Lanka," he said.

"We are hoping the Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake will have a positive response to our demands, if so we can discontinue the bus strike,' he told reporters.

He added that the proposed bus strike would be supported by the Three Wheel Drivers' Association and the All Island School Children's Transport Association.

He also criticized the conduct of certain police officers handling traffic offenses, saying: "The minimum fine will only help certain corrupt traffic police officers."